Zach Duke Fans

I just want to thank you all who visited this site and will continue to visit the new site!  Zach Duke Fans is now located at http://zachduke.fanzoom.net.  Become a member on the forums, view the gallery, and stay up to date on all Zach news. 

Let's go Bucs and good luck to Zach in his first start of the spring tmrw

Alright everyone the new site is http://zachduke.fanzoom.net/Home

It's not completely done yet, but I explain myself on the homepage of the site.  I would like to thank all of you who were members here, those who just visited, and those who posted on the forums.  I hope you will contine to visit Zach Duke Fans as it becomes bigger and better.  Be sure to tell all your friends about the site.  Don't worry, I'll be emailing all of the members once the new site is completely up and running so you won't miss it.  Thank you all again

Good luck Zach this season and go Bucs!!!

Over the next week I will be transferring the site to our new hosting site, FanZoom.  Stay tuned for more information and I will most likely email all members to say that we have moved.  Thank you to all those who have visited and joined the site.  Hopefully many more will join in at our new location.  Let's go Bucs

While it wasn't apparent as the Pirates lost 23 of 26 games late last season, Coonelly and Huntington believe a similar core group capable of winning big exists in McCutchen, Alvarez and Tabata, first baseman Jeff Clement, left fielder Lastings Milledge and pitchers Paul Maholm and Zach Duke.

"We've talked about having a vision and having a plan, and the key to it all is the execution,'' Huntington said. "We are in the middle of that vision and we are in the middle of executing that plan. While it may not happen overnight, as everyone would like it to happen, it is happening.''

The opening day payroll figures to be in the $35 million range, or about what it was when the Pirates last won a division title in 1992. However, owner Bob Nutting is adamant the club is focused on winning games, not turning profits.

"A lot has been made of our payroll,'' Huntington said. "The easiest way to describe our payroll is it's a result, not a goal - the result of trading players on the downside of their prime who were making a lot of money.''

Huntington also believes this year ould the cornerstone season of a Pirates turnaround.

"The 2010 Pirates, as you look at them, (they're) easy to dismiss,'' Huntington said. "It's easy to say, it's just another year. You will never hear me say we're going to win in 2012 or 2013 (and not win now). We are going to give John Russell the tools, the players to go out and win.''

If they do, Maholm said, "In September, this place will be crazy. ... They'll embrace us as they have the Steelers and the Penguins.''

to read more of the article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/wires/01/29/2010.ap.bbn.pirates.are.they.trying.1st.ld.writethru.1027/

Be sure to buy tickets for the 2010 baseball season in order to see Zach Duke and all your other favorite Pirates.

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/ticketing/singlegame.jsp?c_id=pit&partnerId=984x25_2010singlegame_pit013010

As the Winter Caravan stopped at Indiana Mall, Ohlendorf and Morton were asked about the starting rotation.

Right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Charlie Morton agreed the Pirates have a built a solid nucleus with Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, resulting in a young, talented starting rotation that they expect will only get better as they gain experience.

"Paul and Zach both have been the guys who have been there and done it longer,'' said Ohlendorf, one of three Pirates players who appeared at the Winter Caravan Tuesday evening at the Indiana Mall before a strong turnout.  "They've consistently put together more good years, and I still need to improve on what I did last year and also have more than one good year.''

"And it's exciting, too, because we're all young,'' said Morton.

"I think the most exciting thing about our team is we have a lot of young guys who are going to get better,'' said Ohlendorf, who tied Duke for the team lead with 11 wins.

"There are always going to be reasons to improve and try to get better,'' he said.

Ohlendorf, Duke, Maholm and Morton appear most likely to make up the front end of the five-man rotation. Daniel McCutchen, who pitched two stints with the Pirates a year ago, and Kevin Hart will likely compete for the No. 5 spot on the rotation.

Hart struggled for most of the time he spent with the Pirates after he was obtained from the Chicago Cubs in a trade last summer. Ohlendorf expects Hart to improve on his 2-7 (5.44 ERA) record of a year ago.

"I think Kevin Hart will pitch much better than he did,'' said Ohlendorf, who came to the Pirates in 2008 as part of a mid-season trade that involved the New York Yankees and put up unremarkable numbers (0-3, 6.35) in that season's final two months with Pittsburgh.  "It's tough to get traded in the middle of the season and come straight to the majors and go in the starting rotation after relieving a lot.

"He had the offseason to think about the things he needed to work on and to get used to the fact the he will be a starter.''

Ohlendorf also voiced expectations of a big season from Morton, whom the Pirates acquired in a trade that sent outfielder Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves.

"I think Charlie's going to have a really good year,'' Ohlendorf said.  "I think Paul, Zach and I will continue to build on last year.''

Morton went 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA with the Pirates. His season highlight was a four-hit shutout against the Cubs on Sept. 30.

"Just the experience of pitching in the big leagues in itself is a great thing to build with,'' Morton said.

from http://online.indianagazette.com/articles/2010/01/27/news/10033522.txt

You can buy tickets to Pirate Fest which well be held at the David Lawrence Convention Center from January 29th-31st here http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/fan_forum/piratefest.jsp

You can buy spring training tickets here http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/spring_training/tickets.jsp?c_id=pit&affiliateId=panel_pit_2010springtix011910

And tickets to regular season games will go on sale this Saturday, January 30th at 10 am at http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=pit

As of this morning, Zach is no longer scheduled to attend Pirate Fest.

To buy tickets and see the autograph schedule for othe Pirates visit here http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/fan_forum/piratefest.jsp

is worth $4.3 million and is almost double of what he made last season ($2.2 million).  Incentives include $25,000 for 215 IP and $25,000 for 220 IP.

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2010/01/19/duke-s-salary-4-3-million.aspx?

The Pirates and starter Zach Duke this morning agreed to terms on a contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source directly involved in talks.

It is believed to be a one-year term, but no salary was immediately available.

Noon today was Major League Baseball's deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures toward the hearings that take place in February, but that process was canceled by the agreement.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10019/1029393-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml#ixzz0d5XELhyp

"We are pleased that we were able to reach agreement with Zach to avoid the arbitration process," said Pirates general manager Neal Huntington. "It is a credit to Zach Duke, Mark Pieper (Zach's representative) and Larry Silverman (Pirates) that we were able to reach an amicable agreement."

Read more: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100119&content_id=7937068&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

Stay tuned and I will update the site with all the contract details once they are known.